IEC links timely polls to budget, security arrangements

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has linked holding parliamentary and district council elections on schedule to provision of required funds and security arrangements by the government.

In a statement, the IEC said it knew the importance of political parties in a democratic system specially in elections.

The IEC said it was trying to gather viewpoints of political parties regarding the conduct of elections and reiterated its willingness to hold the polls on time if the required budget was provided and necessary security arrangements made.

The commission, however, said if the voting system was changed as per political parties demand, it would badly hamper the IEC preparations for the upcoming polls.

The IEC said it believed political parties played a key role in elections and welcomed introduction of political parties permanent representatives to the IEC.

Two days back, major political parties demanded monitoring of the entire election process and asked the IEC not to take any decision without political parties’ consultation.

The political parties demanded the Wolesi Jirga elections to be held till October this year and asked the IEC to facilitate the transfer to political parties vote from one zone to another in order to prevent falsification of votes.